VIOLENT crimes have dropped dramatically in the Teignmouth-Dawlish-Chudleigh area, but others have increased.

Local police chief Insp Chris Shaw revealed that overall crime in the first six months of the year, which starts on April 1, was up 11 per cent, with the biggest hike of 50 per cent in thefts of expensive tools and gardening equipment from sheds and outhouses.

Thefts from vehicles was also up 30 per cent, and domestic burglaries up ten per cent.

But the bright spot was the 31 per-cent reduction in serious assaults.

Overall crime in the area was up about 11 per cent, but this had to be put in the context of a 20 per cent drop last year, the best in the force area, and very difficult to sustain.

He cautioned Teignmouth town councillors

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